Document 1
National Cabinet
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
AGENDA
Saturday 16 July 2022
10.30am-11.30am AEST
MCN Telepresence
Agenda item
Presenter
1. Acknowledgment of Country
Prime Minister
Welcome and introduction
2. Update from Chief Medical Officer
Professor Paul Kelly
3. Next Steps
First Ministers
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OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Document 2
OFFICIAL Sensitive
Meeting of National Cabinet
16 July 2022 – Virtual attendance
Record of Meeting
1. Acknowledgment of Country, welcome and introduction
The Prime Minister:
Provided an acknowledgement of country and welcomed Premiers and Chief Ministers to
the meeting.
2. Update from Chief Medical Officer
The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly:
Provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic, including new variants and their potential
impact, and the impacts on hospital capacity and broader health system. Australia is
beginning to see a new wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron
sub variants, which will increase the pressure on our health system.
Noted that this wave comes at a time when health systems are already under pressure
responding to the earlier winter influenza season.
Provided advice on potential public health mitigations.
Following the discussion of the current COVID-19 situation, First Ministers:
Noted the advice of the Commonwealth Chief Medical Office.
3. Next Steps
The Prime Minister advised that the Commonwealth has
agreed to reinstate the Pandemic
Leave Disaster Payment to 30 September 2022. Eligibility for the payment will be backdated
to 1 July 2022, to ensure that anyone unable to work owing to isolation requirements in this
period, without access to paid sick leave, is supported.
All First
Ministers
agreed to share the costs of the payment 50:50 between the
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Commonwealth and the States and Territories, with State and Territory shares to reflect the
proportion of their populations receiving the payment.
The Commonwealth
advised that it has further agreed to create a new, temporary
telehealth item so GPs can spend longer with their patients to assess their suitably for oral
COVID-19 antivirals. This will enable those most vulnerable to COVID-19 to quickly access
medical treatments and help ease the burden on hospitals.
State and Territory Premiers and Chief Ministers also shared updates from across each
jurisdiction, including noting initiatives such as increasing access to supplies of Rapid Antigen
Tests (RATs).
All First Ministers
agreed that jurisdictions will utilise existing RAT stocks funded through
50/50 cost share arrangements with the Commonwealth to support the public health
response.
OFFICIAL Sensitive
All First Ministers
agreed that jurisdictions and the Commonwealth will provide consistent
health messaging encouraging Australians to follow the Australian Health Protection
Principal Committee’s recommendations on health behaviours including wearing masks
indoors, getting tested and practising good respiratory hygiene.
The Prime Minister
agreed to consider extension of Australian Defence Force (ADF)
assistance in residential aged care facilities, subject to the impact on ADF resources of other
pressures, such as support to flood-affected areas.
Following discussion on Next Steps, First Ministers:
Agreed to meet regularly through the 2022 winter period.
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Document Outline
